Arrangement for launching aeroplanes in the air from the ground or from a vessel



Apnl 7, 1925. 1,532,630

N. E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND 0R FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 m IL o V II 7514 J Apr1l7, 1925, I 1,532,630

N. E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND OR FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl'glA April 7, 1925. 1,532,630

N. E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHINGAEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND 0R FROM A vEssEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 T 0 i if 0 4 a 5 1 (1 g I L1 o O/K I l 'O 0 g LEA W 5F Aprll 7, 1925. 1,532,630

N. E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND OR FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 MLQVC M emwm QM April 7, 1925. 1,532,630

- N E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNGHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND 0R FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmmmmm \glw um I' J (144k PM k y Apnl 7, 1925. v 1,532,630

I N. E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND OR FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Apnl 7, 1925. 1,532,?630

N. E. METHL IN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND 0R FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aprnl 7, 1925. I 1,532,630

N. E. METHLIN I ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIR FROM THE GROUND OR FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet a Aprll 7, 1925. 1,532,630

N. E. METHLIN ARRANGEMENT FOR LAUNCHING AEROPLANES IN THE AIRFROM THE GROUND on FROM A VESSEL Filed July 28, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Apr. 7,1925,

UNWE STATES rareur orrica.

EECGLAS mammv METHLIN, OI PARIS FRANCE, 'ASSIGNOR '10 SCHNEIDER & Clm, OI

' PARIS, FMCE, A LIMITED JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

application filed duly 2%,

To all whom it may camera;

Be it known that l, NiooLAs EMILIEN Mn'rnurv, a citizen of the Republic of France, resident of Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Arrangements for Launching Aeroplanes in the Air From the Ground or From a Vesml, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to an arrangement for effecting the launching of aeroplanes in the air from ofl the ground or from a vessel, the arrangement being more particularly ap plicable in the latter case. The new arrangement which is more particularly applicable in cases where the distance available for the aeroplane to run before rising is very limited, comprises, in the known manner, a platform capable of being set in a desired direction, and which is provided with a track' for a carriage on which theaeroplane is secured.

The new arrangement is particularly characterized by the feature that the movement on its track of the carriage which carries the aeroplane is produced by the mechanical winding of a traction cableon a rotary drum, which is put in motion by being connected at a determined moment with a motor.

The invention also comprises a series of arrangements of details of which the characteristics are indicated hereinafter.

One form of carr ing the invention into efi'ect is illustrated y way of example on the accompanying drawings in which:

F i re 1 with Figure l is a longitudinal e evation of a general arrangement.

Figure 2 with Figure 2 is a corresponding view in plan.

Fi re 3 with Figure 3 is an elevation to a arger scale, partly in section along the axis of the motor and of the winding drum driven by the latter.

Figure 4 with Figure i is a corresponding plan of. part thereof.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 55, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan along the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Fi re 7 is a section along the line 9-9 of Figure 6 GEMWT KGB EAUNGEING AEROPLFCNES IN THE AIR FROM THE GBOUHD 0E iaae. Serial Ho. 728,751.

Figure 8 a sectional plan of a part of Figure 7 along the line iltl.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a part showing the carriage which carries the aeroplane at the end of the launching course at the moment of release of the aeroplane. V

.Figure 10 is a sectional elevation alon the line 12-12 of Figure d. e

The arrangement comprises, in the known having its centre in the axis of the pivot l3,

and on which turns apinion A}, key-ed to a vertical shaft a pivoting a yolre A parrying the platform A; the yoke being supported by'means of running rollers a on a fixed circular track C concentric with the crown wheel B The motions may be transmitted to the shaft a by means of a worm a enga ing with a worm wheel. a keyed to the said shaft a, the worm a being operated by means of a hand-wheel a 011 the beam or platform A, is arranged a track A on which will run a carriage D to which the aeroplane E is secured by any known means, not shown The launching of the carriage D is effected by pulling on the cable F, which is suitably attached to the said carriage by one end f, for this purpose.

In accordance with the invention, the pull on the cable F is obtained by winding it on a rotary drum G, which is put in motion by being coupled to a motor HI. According to a practical form of construction of'the the invention this couplin between the drum G and the flywheel is preferably eiie ted by el c magnets I 1 etc., the cores or when arearranged so as to pro ectr with re: spect to the nave of the reel 1, and

carry each a pole piece wnn pole pieces 6 2' etc. These pole pieces form a part oi the jaws of an electromagnetic coupling; the corresponding soft iron (Bo-operating parts are constituted by Sl'lOQS G which are movable radially, like spring crown wheel 9 enveloping the omegnets and built as a pro ection under the winding drum G; The spring-s 5 normally hold the soft iron pieces G away from the armatures oi the electronuignets. The excitation of the electromagnets is effected by means of a current flowing in the wires J connected to the conducting rings 5, J mounted on a frame which may he that of the armature of the motor. (in the ring J moves the brush I attached to the flywheel and to which is connected one end of the winding of the series or electromagnets 1, 1 etc. The other end of the winding is connected to a brush I carried by the flywheel I, and movable on the ring J".

In order to ensure a gradual coupling of the flywheel I and the drum G, the strength of the exciting current is increased gradually by means of the handle is of a rhcostat K installed in a stationary position. One of the contact studs of this rheostat is connected by means of the conductors I L to an electromagnetic arrangement for releasing the carriagewhich carries the aero plane I). In the example shown, the said contact stud leading from the rheostat is connected by the conductors L L to the conducting rings M and M arranged on a fixed sector M. In contact with these rings, brushes a a are moved along the contact rings M and M the said brushes being carried by a member A in the form of a hook, which projects under the beam A; these-hooks serve at the same time as catches for the back of the beam in all its positions of directional setting. The brushes a", a", are connected, by conductors n n to the winding 92 of an electromagnet N, which is situated in a pocket on the hook A and which when excited attracts the head 0 rovided on a soft iron rod 0 normally he d up by a spring 0 the rod 0 is pivoted to a hook O the nose of which normally engages with a piece d which projects below the carriage D thus acting as a detent.

The winding drum G to which is attached the end f of the cable F, is preferably ar- 1,5eaeso ranged in the form of a spiral, the turns of which can be arranged so as to increase according to the iaw of acceleration of the speed of the aeroplane during launching.

In order to launch an aeroplane of which the supporting carriage D is normally held last in the position indicated on Figures 3 and l, the motor H is set in motion, and, when the flywheel I has acquired suflicient momentum, the handle is is operated. In this manner the electromagnets I, I I etc, are excited gradually. By this gradualexcitation, a first winding suflicient to tighten the cable F is secured. When the cable is so strctchedthe handle is moved on the desired contact stud ior transmitting the current along the conductors L, L the excitation of the electromagnets N assuring the release or the retaining catch Then the cable winds on the successive turns of the drum in a spiral, thus eiiecting the travelling of the cable, of the carriage, and of the aeroplane ii at gradually in( easing speeds.

The ie' aeroplane at the end en the launching track A is efils c i'ecte? cnaticaiiy.

As si wn on the drawings, the aeroplane is held in front by a spring bolt P, at the lower end of which is mounted in a fork p, a roller p At the end of the course the roller 3) meets an inclined plane A carried by the beam A, which causes the bolt P to move out of the way; one or more hydropneumatic butters Q absorb the shock of the carriage which carries the aeroplane D, at the end of its course, the carriage abutting against the piston g of these shock absorbers.

The invention comprises an automatic breaker of the excitation circuit of the electromagnetic coupling between the winding drum and the motor. A contact finger R, movable radially in the drum G, is held in contact, by a spring 1*, with conducting rings 1, I attached to the flywheel I, and to which are c nnected the two ends 13, i of the winding of the electromagnetic cou pling, at the point where there is an interruption on one of the radial arms of the flywheel I. Normally the winding circuit is closed across the rings I", I by the conducting finger R. The automatic breaking is effected by the separation of the finger R from the rings I, I", which separation is produced, at the end of the windin operaion tion of the cable R on the drum, byt e presnecessary to make use of the pivot of the platform A as shaft for the motor and the winding drum. This shaft. may be an independent one parallel to the axis of the verflywheel and drum, a carriage on the track,-

tical pivot; it may be arranged horizontally.

separate drum. The return of the carriage D to the position of departure may be secured by hand or mechanically, and if desired by means of a winch.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is- 1. In a device for launching aeroplanes, the combination of a motor, a flywheel, a drum and a track all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis, a clutch between said and a cable connecting said drum and carnage.

2. In a device for launchlng aeroplanes,

the combination of an electric motor, a flywheel, a drum and a track, all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis,'an electromagnetic clutch between the flywheel and the drum, a carriage on the track, and a cable connecting said drum and carriage.

3. In a device for launching aeroplanes, the combination of an electric motor, a fly wheel, a drum and a track, all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis, an electromagnetic clutch between the fly-wheel and the drum, a carriage on the track, means for turning said track on the axis independently of the other elements, a carriage on the track, and a cable connecting said drum and carriage.

4. In a device for launching aeroplanes, the combination of a motor, a flywheel, a drum and a track, all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis, a clutch between said flywheel and drum, means gradually operating said clutch to connect the drum and flywheel, a carriage on the-track, and a cable connecting said drum and carriage.

5. In a device for launching aeroplanes, the combination of a motor, a flywheel, a drum and a track, all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis, a clutch between said flywheel and drum, means gradually operating said clutchv to connect the drum and flywheel, automatic means releasing the clutch at a predetermined point, a carriage on the track, and a cable connecting said drum and carriage.

6.v In a device for launching aeroplanes, the combination of a motor, a flywheel, a drum and a track, all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis, a clutch between said flywheel and drum, a carriage on the track, a cable connecting said drum and carriage, means retaining the aeroplane on the carriage, a brake for the carriage near the end of its travel, and means automatically opening said clutch and releasing the aeroplane from the carriage.

7. In a device for launching aeroplanes, the combination of a motor, a flywheel, a drum and a track all mounted to turn on a common vertical axis, a clutch between said flywheel and drum, a carriage on the track, a cable connecting said drum and carriage, and a hydro-pneumatic brake for said carriage.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

NICOLAS EMILIEN METI-ILIN.

V Witnesses i ANDRE NOSTICKER, LOUIS GARDET. 

